A source close to television and radio presenter Kaye Adams has labelled her departure from the BBC as an "ageist and sexist stitch-up," following a disciplinary investigation that found her guilty of inappropriate behaviour. Adams, who hosted the £155,000-a-year show Mornings with Kaye Adams on BBC Scotland, parted ways with the broadcaster after initially being suspended in October last year while the probe took place.
Disciplinary Findings and Insider Defence
The investigation concluded that Adams had engaged in misconduct, including allegedly swearing at a colleague, throwing a pen at another, and berating an intern's professional ability. However, two complaints of bullying against her were not upheld. An insider close to the former Loose Women star has now defended her, arguing that the axe "doesn't make sense" given her 15-year tenure at the BBC without prior issues.
The source told The Sun that Adams is leaving "with her head held high and conscience clear." They questioned the timing and motives, stating, "Her ratings are really good, the highest on BBC Scotland. She’s worked there for 15 years without issue, and at ITV without complaints since 1999. Are we to believe she has suddenly become a different person?"
Allegations and Context
One incident involved Adams allegedly using the offensive c-word against a colleague over a decade ago, which resulted in the person refusing to work on the show that day. Another saw her lobbing a pen at a producer in frustration during a programme. Her friend disputed these claims, noting that the c-word allegation was from 14 years ago and dealt with at the time, while the pen-throwing occurred in an empty radio booth during a stressful moment.
The insider added that Adams had raised concerns with management over the past three years about feeling unsupported in a high-pressure job due to an inexperienced team. They questioned whether "a couple of frustrated exchanges is worth someone losing their job," and revealed that some former colleagues have written to the BBC urging reconsideration.
Background and Broader BBC Context
Adams, a mother of two, worked at BBC Scotland for 15 years until her suspension on October 7 last year. She hosted the phone-in show Call Kaye before it transitioned to Mornings with Kaye Adams. She remains a regular panellist and presenter on ITV's Loose Women, which has stated it is standing by her, with fellow presenters like Denise Welch and Nadia Sawalha offering support.
Friends have expressed fears of a "witch-hunt" against Adams by new BBC Scotland radio boss Victoria Easton-Riley, appointed in May 2025. Under her leadership, the station scrapped its longest-running programme, Good Morning Scotland, and replaced it with Radio Scotland Breakfast, along with cutting four late-night music shows.
BBC's Anti-Harassment Campaign
The move against Adams coincided with the BBC's latest anti-harassment campaign, "Call It Out," which encourages employees to report unacceptable conduct. This initiative was launched in response to an independent report that found some stars and managers "behave unacceptably" with inadequate action from bosses. The report was commissioned after the Huw Edwards scandal, where the former news anchor admitted possessing child abuse images.
Other high-profile cases include the sacking of MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace after 45 allegations were upheld, and BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty currently under formal investigation for bullying complaints. BBC chairman Samir Shah has warned presenters that no one is "too big a star" to avoid accountability.
Adams also hosts the weekly podcast How to Be 60 with Karen MacKenzie, where she has spoken about the stress of the BBC probe, admitting to weight loss and feeling her name was "dragged through the mud." BBC bosses have already lined up broadcaster and DJ Grant Stott as her replacement. Both Adams' representatives and the BBC were approached for comment on the matter.
